Spreader for shot-cartridges.



PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

T G. BENNETT. SPREADER FOR SHOT CARTRIDGES.

APPLICATION TILED DEG. 12,1904.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ THOMAS G. BENNETT, OF NEIV HAVEN,CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS (10., OF NEW HAVEN,CONNECTI- OUT, A CORPORATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

A li ati fil d December 12, 1904. Serial No. 236,565-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. BENNETT,

a citizen of the United'States,residing at New Haven, in the county ofNew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Spreaders for Shot-Cartridges; and I do hereby declarethe following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsand the numerals of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, andexact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute partof this specification, and represent, in Figure 1, a view in sideelevation of a cartridge containing one form which my improved spreadermay assume, a portion of the shell being broken away to show thespreader and other elements of the load; Fig. 2, a view of one form ofblank which I may employ for the production of my improved spreader Fig.3, an edge view thereof; Fig. 4, a plan view of the spreader as foldedFig. 5, a view thereof in side elevation. Figs. 6 and 7 show other formsof blanks'which I may employ, the broken lines on them indicating modesof folding them.

My invention relates to an improvement in spreaders for shotcartridgesor cartridges having multicharges of any form, the object being toproduce a cheap and effective spreader adapted to be readily loaded intoa shell and constructed with particular reference to spreadin the chargewithout interfering with the vel ocity thereof as soon as the spreaderleaves the muzzle of the gun.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a spreader consistingof a single piece of sheet-like material folded into a predeterminedform, permitting its insertion into a cartridge and its unfolding assoon as it leaves the muzzle of the gun.

My invention further consists in a spreader having certain details ofconstruction, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In carrying out my invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, Iroduce a pocket-like or cup-like spreader 2,0 cylindrical cross-sectionand longitudinally divided into four connecting shotereceivingcompartments 3 by four inwardly-extending webs or partitions 4 byfolding in any suitable manner a square sheet-like blank 5 on the brokenlines 6 7 indicated on Fig. 2. By preference I shall use some sort ofpaper in the production of the spreaders; but I do not limit myself tothe use of paper, as I might employ cloth, sized or otherwise adapted tohold its shape when folded, or sheet metal soft enough not to in jurethe gun-barrel, or, indeed, any other material capable of being producedin sheets and retaining to a measurable extent at least a predeterminedfolded form while in the shell. Nor do I limit myself to the employmentof a rectangular blank or to spreaders having four compartments. Thus inFig. 6 I have shown a circular blank 8, the broken lines 9 on whichindicate how it will be folded to produce a pocket-like spreader of fourconnecting compartments. In Fig. 7 I have shown a circular blank 10, thebroken lines 11 on which show how it may be folded to produce apocket-like spreader of six compartments. The form of the blanks and themodes of folding them may be widely varied, and these illustrations willsuifice for proof of that; but the blanks should be folded withreference to the unfolding of the spreaders immediately on their leavingthe muzzle of the gun.

In using my improved spreader it is introduced into the shell closed endfirst and so as to rest upon the outer powder-retaining wad 13, whichrests upon a similar but thicker wad 14, which in turn rests upon athinner wad 15, directly confining the powder 16; but of course thenumber of powder-retaining wads and their relative thickness will varyin different kinds of shot shells. After the spreader has beenintroduced into the shell the shot 17 is poured into the same and findsits wayinto the compartments of the spreader, the partition walls ofwhich in a sense divide the shot from itself. After the shot has beenpoured into the shell the same is closed by the shot-wad 18, held inplace by crimping the extreme end of the shell, as at 19.

It seems suflicient to say of the operation of the spreader that whenthe cartridge is fired and the spreader leaves the gun-barrel itimmediately unfolds and effects the spreading of the shot withoutinterfering with the velocity thereof.

In view of the modifications suggested and of others which may obviouslybe made I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to theforms shown, but hold myself at liberty to make such departurestherefrom as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shot or multicharge spreader forcartridges, the said spreader consisting of a single piece of sheet-likematerial folded into a predetermined cup-like form permitting itsinsertion into a cartridge and its immediate unfolding on leaving themuzzle of the gun.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shot or multicharge spreader forcartridges, the said spreader consisting of a single piece of sheet-likematerial folded into a predetermined form having inwardly-extending Websor partitions dividing it into connecting compartments, and adapting itto immediately unfold on its leaving the muzzle of the gun.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftWo subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS G. BENNETT. Witnesses:

DANIEL H. VEADER, H. F. BEEBE.

